Mandy’s article on pointing the finger at the NSW government for not helping to keep Bluesfest alive was to me spot on! (Echo, March 18).
I read an article where Live Nation gets tons of grant money for events, and it is a major corporation from the US. Yet, Bluesfest gets crumbs and it is a locally-produced world-class event!
Makes no sense to me.
Having worked in ticket sales and front gate operations at the first ten Bluesfests, I can tell you that it has never been cheap to run this festival. I can remember the big marquees in those days that were not anywhere near the size of the ones these days, costing tens of thousands of dollars to erect.
Overseas artists had four-star accommodation on the Gold Coast for them, and their entourages.
Drivers took them back and forth, plus performing fees, airfares, and everything else you could possibly think of made it already too expensive.
And you must remember the directors and their families had to live off anything left over for a whole year!
So thinking that they made heaps of money needs to be looked at in a different light.
So thanks Mandy for redirecting the blame for this year’s cancellation. All the local people, and especially the directors, who have ever worked for this festival deserve thanks for bringing such a wonderful event to our Shire for so many years.
RIP Bluesfest you will be sadly missed.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
